Chapter 4

The air in the room was murky. Caleb had probably been smoking a lot.

When he heard the sound of the door opening, he raised his head and looked in my direction.

"Are you moving out, Alicia?"

I ignored him as I walked up to the cabinet. Pulling open a drawer, I retrieved my personal documents and my purse. Then, I stuffed them in my bag.

"What are you doing?"

Caleb obviously sounded a little panicked, and he had a bitter tone in his voice.

"Why are you taking these things?"

I said calmly, "You'll be marrying Ms. White soon, and you've also released a statement this morning. If I keep living here, it'll only cause harm to everyone involved."

Just as I was reaching out to get the luggage on the floor, Caleb gripped my wrist.

"You're well aware of the funding issues in our company, and only the Whites can help me out. You know very well that I was just pretending. Stop making a fuss, Alicia."

His eyes were red as he stared intently at me.

"Let's get along like we used to, alright?"

"Like we used to?" I thought, "So I have to keep playing the role of the toy, which is hidden from the public and never allowed any status or identity?"

I didn't say a word as I picked up the luggage on the floor.

I walked to the door and shook my head at Caleb.

"Let's clear this up once and for all, Caleb. I don't owe you anything, nor are you indebted to me. Let's not contact each other from now on."

As I strode forward, I heard a crash behind me. It sounded like something was smashed into pieces.

"Alicia!" Caleb called out to me in a low voice, "Mark my words. If you leave right now, I'll stop your brother's medications immediately. Judging by your capability, you can't possibly afford the huge expense on your own."

I froze in my footsteps. I was rooted on the spot.

…

My brother had found me when I was almost graduating from college seven years ago.

I had always assumed that he had died along with our parents somewhere out there.

To my surprise, he had been searching for me for the past few years.

Back then, after I had moved to Paxford along with Caleb's family, I had ceased all contact with the people I had previously known.

My brother had finally found me, but back then, he was also diagnosed with severe kidney disease.

With help from Caleb, my brother had undergone kidney transplant surgery. However, something had gone wrong during the surgery, so my brother was now in a vegetative state. He could only be kept alive with medications for the rest of his life.

The medications were of the expensive and imported kind. Back then, I was a fresh graduate, so I couldn't afford the cost at all. In my desperation, I had no choice but to agree to Caleb's conditions.

I was to become his woman and stay by his side.

This went on for seven years.

I thought that he would eventually marry me, but in the end, to him, I was nothing but a toy at his beck and call.

I was even the most worthless of the lot.

I bit my lip as I continued walking forward.

This time, no matter what the result might be, I had to try my best to change.

Unfortunately, fate had other ideas. I had just placed my luggage at the hotel when I received a call from the hospital.

Caleb had actually stopped my brother's medications and injections, as he said he would.

Without the injections, my brother's health soon showed signs of deterioration.

I didn't want to turn back and beg Caleb for help. In my panic, the thought of Ryan crossed my mind.

I dialed the number on the name card he had given me.

…

Ryan immediately transferred my brother to another hospital and had the best doctor in Paxford examine my brother.

After leaving the hospital, Ryan took me to his home in Northwood.

My hesitant expression probably exposed my feelings at the moment.

Ryan unlocked the door with his fingerprint. After glancing at me, he spoke in a calm and emotionless tone.